The Department of Agriculture set a May 8 deadline for nominations to a task force that will “examine hydroponic and aquaponic practices and their alignment with the USDA organic regulations” and the underlying law. There are no specific regulations for those types of production at present, the USDA said in a Federal Register notice, but the production systems have gained certification as organic by complying with the overall requirements for organic-crop production. The task force will advise the National Organic Standards Board “on what practices should be allowed or restricted,” said the USDA. The report is expected in spring 2016.